Washing machine



Feb. 21, 1933. a. w. DUNHAM 1,398,038

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z4 2a 8 L 14 8 ,i ,.'n 1 1 40 /0-- k 10i 0| 0 o |o o o 0 000m //0 I13 I Z I if 1 v p- I 9 30 v Z7 247 s/ lNVENTOR g o 8M ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1933. ,7. w DUNHAM 1,898,038

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE DURHAM, OF'UTIGA, NEW YORK, AS SIGNOB, BY MESNE ASIGNMENTS, TO TEE 'W'HIRLDRY CORPORATION, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTIOUT I WASHING mncnmn Application and August 22, 1924. Serial No. 733,482.

This invention relates to improvements in laundry machines and particularly to machines for washing and drying intended for domestic use.

The invention involves an improved apparatus and construction and also a novel method of operating laundry machines whereby the two distinct functions of washing and of drying may be performed in the 1c same apparatus without changing the posifor the purpose of handling the liquid that.

is used in washing the articles. It is well known that any substance having mass is subject to the action of centrifu al forces when rotated with respect to a xed axis, and that a liquid is subject to this law as well as a solid, but this fact has not heretofore been recognized or utilized in the construction and operation of laundry machines for domestic use. This principle, however, is 'utilized in my improved construction, which results in distinct changes and modifications in the structure employed in carrying the principles underlying the invention into effect.

The invention also consists in certain new and novel structural features resulting in greater simplicity of construction, rigidity of structure, uniformity of operation, and safety against damage and against accident.

The invention also consists in the new and novel type receptacle for the articles to be washed, which may be permanently mounted upon fixed bearings, and which can be used both for washing and for drying without change in its position and without removing the articles therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a washing and drying machine, illustrating one form of my improved receptacle, container and operating means; 7

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the washing operation;

igure 3 is a diagrammatic view indicating the method of removing the liquid from the rec ptacle by centrifugal force;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View showing a different form of the receptacle;

Figure 5 .is a diagrammatic view illustrating a difierent form of the receptacle and a modified type of container therefor;

FigureG is a diagrammatic view showing a further modification of the container for the receptacle and indicatingthe relative positions of the liquid in said container when in motion and when at rest.

Referring to the drawings showing one type of structure and some modifications thereof embodying the principles of my invention, an outer receptacle or container 1 is provided to receive the liquid employed in washing the articles which are placed in a receptacle 2. The liquid in the container may be transferred to the receptacle by suitable means, as a pump 3, supported by the container. The receptacle and also the pump 'may be actuated by a motor 4, likewise mounted upon the container or upon the supports 5 therefor.

Preferably the receptacle is supported upon a, hollow tubular post 6 secured centrally in the container, the said post inclosing a hollow shaft or coupling member 7 operatively connected with the motor and adapted to be detachably connected to the receptacle as by means of a thumb screw 45, Figure 1, acting as a releasable clutch. Suitable means are also provided for agitating articles in the container, such as the vacuum cups 8, which may be actuated from the motor through a shaft 9, which passes through the tubular post. If desired, however, the liquid instead of the articles to be washed may be agitated as by means of the pump or other suitable water impelling devices.

The receptacle, 2, which receives the articles to be washed, such as clothin and the like, is characterized by the fact that it has walls closed to hold the washing water and further by the fact that it can be mounted to rotate in the same plane and in the same position when used for washing or for drying purposes. Preferably the receptacle is circular in outline with walls which are vertical or which bear outwardly slightly toward the rim or top of the receptacle of which flare slightly to outline opening 10 for the liquid, as shown.

The top of the receptacle or upper sec tion 11, preferably converges inwardly to ward the axis of the receptacle to provide a bafile for the liquid and a guard or retainer for the articles in the receptacle. Said baflie extension or section may be attached to the receptacle as in Figure 1, or may be spaced therefrom and permanently secured thereto by straps 12 as in Fig. 4 or be constructed in any other suitable manner.

The receptacle is provided at or near its top with a flange or collar providing a bearing to support the receptacle upon the stationary post 6. In the detail views, Figures 1 and at, the receptacle is of annular construction with a central sleeve or column 13, rising from the closed bottom and having a shouldered upper end portion 14, resting on top of the post and surrounding the upper end of the tubular drive shaft 7,

. which is coupled at its lower end to the motor shaft 16 by worm gearing 17, Whereby the receptacle may be rotated at the desired speed from the motor.

A ball bearing 40 may be interposed between the supporting shoulder of the receptacle and the top of the stationary post to eliminate friction, and the drive shaft may be supported at the bottom by a suitable step bearing 18.

The container 1 may be of any suitable material and the central post 6 may form a separate part. The walls of the container may extend either above or below the top of the receptacle, depending upon the particular form or type of receptacle which may be used, and the container should have sufficient capacity to hold all of the liquid which may be removed from the receptacle while it is being used as a dryer and an additional amount necessary to keep the pump inlet covered during the washing operation. In Figures 1 to 3, the sides of the container are extended up past the receptacle and spaced therefrom to catch the discharge {T110111 the receptacle without impeding the The pump may be of any preferred con-.

directly into' the receptacle. Valve. 22 controls the outlet from the container. If preferred, the spout 23 of the discharge pipe may be swiveled on the top of the standpipe and be turned to direct the water elther into the receptacle or back into the container or entirely clear of both. With the latter the valve can be eliminated if desired.

The vacuum cups 8 are mounted on spider arms 24, supported by the shaft 9, having a bearing within the drive sleeve. Said shaft projects below-the bottom of the sleeve, and is connected through a suitable pin and slot engagement 25 with a lever 26, which may be pivoted at any convenient point to a stationary part of the apparatus, for example, to the flange 27 on the pump. This lever is reciprocated to actuate the vacuum cups by means of a worm 28 upon the motor shaft in engagement with a gear 29 which is connected by a link 30 with the lever. The-cups are thereby caused to agitate the liquid and the clothes, producing the desired washing action. While the cups, the receptacle or the liquid may be caused, by various means to slowly rotate in order that all the clothes may be uniformly effected by the agitation preferably in theconstruction shown, a relatively slow rotation is imparted to the receptacle and contents during the washing by turning the nozzle 23 as to direct the stream into the receptacle on an angle or tangent sufficient for the stream to impart the desired movement.

Referring to Figure 2, I have indicated diagrammatically the stage in the washing operation when the liquid is at or approximately at the level of the outlet at the top of the receptacle, and is constantly spilling over and discharging into the container, from which it is drawn by the pump, as indicated by the arrows, and returned to the receptacle, serving not only to keep the receptacle full but to agitate the liquid in the receptacle and aid in the washing operation.

In Figure 3, I have indicated diagrammatically one stage of the drying operation in which the receptacle, in the same relative position with respect to the container and without being adjusted or moved in any way, is coupled to and rotatedby the motor at a bi h rate of speed, causin the liquid under t e action of centrifugal force to pile up against the side and creep upward along the same and overflow over the rim of the receptacle into the container. The depth of the liquid indicates that the pump action has been stopped, for instance by closing outlet valve 22, and that the liquid is accumulating in the receptacle. The operation may'be continued until all of the liquid passes out of the receptacle into the contamer, and until the articles'of'clothing in (tlhe receptacle have become satisfactorily In Figures 5 and 61 have indicated some of the various modifications of the apparatus, which may be made both in the receptacle and the container without departing from the invention,

Referring to Figure 5, the receptacle is provided with a removable cover 31 having a depending skirt or flange extending downwardly below the top of the container, which has relatively low walls. The cover,-which may or may not have the skirt attached or formed integral therewith, is supported and spaced from the receptacle by any suitable means, as the flange 32, which may besecured to the receptacle.

In the construction shown in Figure 6, I have indicated diagrammatically another type of container, in which the receptacle is formed inte ral therewith and both rotate as a unit. 11 this embodiment of my invention the container has a depth only slightly reater than the depth of the receptacle, ut it has a much greater diameter,

forming an. annular pocket 33 at the sides of the receptacle to receive the liquid, which may be supplied thereto from the receptacle. During the drying operation theliquid in the receptacle will pass outward under centrifugal force and over the rim of the receptacle as hereinbefore described, and will also move outward and bank up against the sides of the container, forming an annular rim of liquid, which will remain in place until the drying operation has been completed and receptacle and container have come to rest.

With this construction the pump might be dispensed with, as most of t e liquid can be caused to flow back into the receptacle by operating a plug 34 in bottom of receptacle.

It will be seen that in this construction the overstanding inwardly-inclined guard flange is carried by the container and rotates therewith.

In operation of the machine as disclosed in Figure 1, the container is filled with liquid to the desired height, and the clothing, or other articles to be washed, placed in the receptacle. Sufiicient water is added, if necessary to cause an overflow of the liquid into the container. The motor is thenstarted and the cups caused to impart a suitable movement to the clothing and at the same time to agitate the liquid so as to effect the washing of the clothing in the usual wellknown manner. When the batch of clothing in the receptacle has been thoroughly cleansed, the receptacle which has been at rest or rotating slowly during the washing operation is connected with the drive shaft,

tinued until the clothing has become sufiicientl dr the liquid meantime having accumu ate in the container. The clothing is then removed from the receptacle, and the valve in the feed pipe may be opened to cause the pump to transfer the water from the container back into the receptacle ready to receive another batchof wash. If desired, the water may be wasted by turning the outlet spout away from the container and then operating the pump. The vacuum cups may be again fixed to the shaft by means of the set screw, the receptacle be released from the driving sleeve, and the motor again started to repeat the cycle of operations just described.

By means of this construction the recepta cle is mounted in a position stationary with respect to the container, and no manipulation, movement, or adjustment of the parts of the apparatus, or any of them, is required, other than the alternate attachment and release of certain coupling parts, to efiect both the drying and the washing operations.

The receptacle is of solid, imperforate construction. It may be made of lighter strength than the receptacles now in use, which are provided with a large number of perforations. The means for driving the receptacle are extremely simple and compact, comprising only a few parts. The driving is done through a single shaft, so there is very little loss of motion. The .apparatus can be used with any standard form of pump, and may be actuated from a-driving pulley, or in any other suitable manner.

The container may be of any suitable material, and may be made in various shapes most convenient for the particular use for which the machine is being employed or to meet the demands of the trade. The receptacle likewise can be modified with respect to shape and design. Various other changes may be made in the structure without depar-' ture from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

'When the sides of the receptacle are vertical, or substantially so, there is but little tendency for the clothes to creep up and the guard may then be stationary andbe simply a flat part of either perforate or imperforate material, yet have greater rigidity and make the pump 0 eration entirely independent ofthe was ing and drying opera- 5 tions.

Preliminary to the actual washing operations the clothes may be soaked for atime, the imperforate character of the clothes receptacle enabling thisfurther desirable use of the machine. The clutch construction by which the receptacle is coupled to and un-' coupled from the driving means therefor may vary as to structure and location but should be of such a nature and so placed u that it can be quickly and easily operated.

In the foregoing description'and in the claims the term imperforate type as applied to the receptacle is intended to include any type of receptacle which is sufficiently imperforate to hold laundry liquid for washing regardless of the fact that holes may be provided for certain purposes.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a laundry machine, a tank, a hollow pedestal extending upwardly in said tank, a receptacle having a tubular upstanding hub, said hub telescoping-with and having direct bearing on said pedestal, a tubular shaft within and having direct bearing relation with said pedestal, agitating means operating in said receptacle, a second shaft within and having direct bearing relation with said tubular shaft, and means whereby one of said shafts drives said receptacle for drying and the other of said shafts drives'said agitating means for washing.

2. In a laundry machine, a tank, a hollow pedestal extending upwardly in said tank, a receptacle having a tubular upstanding direct axial bearing on said pedestal, a tubular shaft within-and having direct hearing in said pedestal, a clutch at the top of said hub for connecting and disconnecting said tubular shaft and hub, a second shaft having direct bearing in said tubular shaft, agitating means operating in said receptacle, and coupling means at the top of said second shaft for connecting and disconnecting said agitating means and second shaft, and means for driving said shafts.

3. A laundry machine comprising a hollow pedestal, a tubular shaft in said pedestal, an inner shaft in said tubular shaft, said pedestal and inner shaft each having direct bearing relation with said tubular shaft, a receptacle directly I journaled on said pedestal, washing devices in said receptacle and means for selectively connecting one of said shafts to said receptacle and the other to said washing devices.

4. A laundry machine comprising a hollow pedestal, washing devices including a receptacle having a hub surroundin said pedestal, a tubular drive shaft in sai peding hub, said hub telescoping with and havincense estal, an inner drive shaft in said tubular shaft, said pedestal, hub, tubular shaft and inner shaft telescoping all one within the other, each of the telescoping members having direct bearing relation with its contiguous members, and means for selectively connecting .said shafts to said washing devices.

5. In a laundry machine, a laundry recepta'cle having a hollow hub, a pedestal on which said hub is .positioned, a drive shaft extending up through said hub, clutch elements at the top of said shaft and hub for connecting and disconnecting said receptacle and shaft, and means for driving said shaft below said receptacle, said elements being disposed in engageable relation both when said receptacle and drive shaft are connected and disconnected.

.6. In a laundry machine, a laundry receptacle, a support for said receptacle, a vertically disposed drive shaft, clutch elements on said receptacle and drive shaft operable from the top of said receptacle for connecting and disconnecting said drive shaft and,

receptacle, and means for driving said shaft below said receptacle, said elements being disposed in engageable relation both when said receptacle and drive shaft are connected and disconnected.

7. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a tank, a tubular column rising from the bottom of said tank, a bearing on top of said column, a clothes receptacle supported by said bearing and provided with an upwardly prO ecting clutch sleeve, a drive shaft ex tendlng up through the column of said .clutch sleeve and a shiftable clutch element interposed between said drive shaft and clutch sleeve.

Signed at Utica in the county of Oneida and State of New York this 12th day of August A. D. 1924.

GEORGE W. DUNHAM. 

